Hilarious, observant, and honest, The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang--fifth in the Popularity Papers series--has all of author/illustrator Amy Ignatow's signature charm, while bringing our beloved heroines to a new turning point in their lives.

Fresh off their epic summer road trip, Lydia and Julie are back and ready to take seventh grade by storm. Well, Lydia is: She wants to start a band, and she's convinced Julie to join her. The Macram Owls are joined by Roland (expert at the hardingfele) and Jane (expert at drama). None of them, unfortunately, are experts at rocking out.

The band needs more practice, but instead Lydia and Julie find themselves riding an unexpected wave of popularity thanks to their own belated birthday party. The girls may have accidentally stumbled upon the secret to popularity--if only the secret weren't so completely humiliating.

The Popularity Papers:
Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#1)
The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#2)
Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#3)
The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#4)
The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#5)
Love and Other Fiascos with Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#6)
The Less-Than-Hidden Secrets and Final Revelations of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#7)